The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday dropped a broad hint that the Government was considering the two major political parties' demand for the release of two detained former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-help them to sit across the table for the national dialogue.

The BNP and the Awami League (AL) have continued demanding the release of their Chiefs-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-to lead their respective party delegation to the national dialogue from the very beginning, formally since the pre-dialogue sessions with the Government in early April.

"Well, all the issues discussed and raised by different political parties are under consideration and all-out efforts are in place to make the dialogue fruitful," Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told a press briefing when asked if the Government was contemplating to involve Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina in the dialogue, as per demand of the two major parties of the country.

Meanwhile, the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) yesterday at a meeting decided not to join the ongoing formal dialogue with the Government without its detained President Sheikh Hasina.

"The Working Committee decided not to participate in the dialogue and the election without Sheikh Hasina," AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu told The New Nation after the ALCWC meeting last night.

Reiterating similar stand, BNP spokesman and Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said his party was awaiting the Government's decision regarding the release of Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

"We have made it clear that the dialogue will never be a success without the participation of the two detained former Prime Ministers (Khaleda and Hasina), as they are the ones, who enjoy the peoples' confidence and can translate decisions in to reality," he told this Correspondent.

Nazrul Islam Khan, however, hastened to drop a hint that the BNP's decision might be changed.

"We have not yet taken a final decision, as the Government's invitation letter (sent to BNP) neither mentioned a specific date for the dialogue with us nor a deadline for sending the names of the party delegation to the talks," he replied when asked whether his statement meant that BNP was boycotting the dialogue if Begum Zia was not released.

In the meantime, the Government has started preparations for holding a parallel dialogue with representatives of the citizens' group and professional bodies.

As part of the plan Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman will hold a meeting with leaders of the business community, including FBCCI President Annisul Haq, at 3:00pm at the Secretariat.

The political dialogue will be held with Islamic Shashantantra Andolan on Thursday, after three-day recess, the Adviser said, after a meeting of the four Advisers assigned for the dialogue.

"Everyday at 10:00am a session of dialogue will take place with a political party from June 2," said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman rejecting the reported allegation that the Government was pressurising the two major political parties to force them to sit for the talks.

"I am not aware of any such pressure from any quarters," he replied.

"There is no reason for creating any pressure here," Hossain Zillur, who is acting as the Government's spokesman for the dialogue, asserted, adding, "We are hopeful that all (parties) will come forward to make the dialogue successful."

He said making the dialogue successful was not only the responsibility of the Government alone, rather it was everybody's duty to make the parleys fruitful since the hopes and aspirations of the nation depends on it.

To make the dialogue successful, all, including the political parties and media have to play a positive role along with the Government, he observed.

Asked how things would go in case the dialogue fails, Hossain Zillur replied, "We need not waste our time worrying about 'ifs' and 'buts'; we are working heart and soul to make it fruitful."

He said the Government has arranged the dialogue as it respects the people of the country and it also cares about public opinion.

"The nation is striving to move forward through identifying problems during the dialogue and resolving them," he asserted.